I decided to split the war between the Dwarves and the Wood Elves into two parts, an air fight and a land battle. Today, we engage in the air battle.

Ariel, Queen of the Asrai stood at the edge of the forests, looking on in despair as the armies of the Dawi came into view over the horizon, led by none other than their king Thorgrim Grudgebearer who approached alongside all of the great Dwarven lords; Ungrim Ironfist, his son Garagrim Ironfist, King Kazador, Belegar Ironhammer, Alfrik Ranulfsson, Kragg the Grim, Thorek Ironbrow, Queen Helga, Gotri Hammerson, Gringri Heldenbrand, Finn Sourscowl and Dorin Heldour were just some of the Dwarfs of legend who had joined their king in this assault. Behind them, Ariel swore there must have been up to 100,000 Dwarfs at their back including plenty of fire-based weaponary such as Irondrakes and Flame Cannons which her tree allies would surely not appreciate. The Asrai by contrast, contained less than 30,000 members inhabiting including civilians. The tree spirits would surely help but even then, how could anyone make up for the sheer difference in scale?

Scarloc, Champion of Athel Loren, approached his queen in search for orders only for her to ask him to contact the tree ancient Durthu and request he opened the World Roots up. The Asrai may not win this war, but at least this way her citizens turned refugees may survive.

However, before Thorgrim’s army arrived Ariel would have another problem to face. The forests of Athel Loren are engulfed in a chronomantic spell whereby any invaders who attack the forest by land will inevitably be hindered by a shorter passage of time, a curse Ariel had set centuries ago to discourage Beastmen incursions into the forest. Consequently, despite the land-based Dwarf army standing within eyesight, it would still be some time until the Dwarf army arrived. Thorgrim saw this issue coming of course and had planned accordingly. As he and his armies were slowed down, his air force approached unhindered.

The Dawi air force was no less impressive than its military; boasting 3 Airships including Malakai Makaisson’s ship fresh from blasting Gorbad Ironclaw and engineer Grim Grunnson on-board another, 19 Gyrobombers including Grimm Burloksson commanding from inside one of them and 76 Gyrocopters to protect them, 4 copters per bomber. If Ariel did not act now the Dawi air force would devastate the forest and her people before Thorgrim ever needed to do so much as leave his chair.

And so, as Durthu and Naieth the Prophetess proceeded to lead Asrai civilians through the world roots (remember that Durthu is himself weakened after the Galrauch fight, his arm which was burnt by the dragon has not yet fully regrown), Ariel amassed as much of an air force as she could muster. Ariel prepared to fly, protected by 4 Forest Dragons, 8 Spellweavers and Spellsingers riding great eagles and 180 Hawk Riders. Just before taking off Ariel heard a voice “Elf-Queen, this is my forest too! Release me and I will fight for it!” but no matter how desperate things felt, Ariel was not ready to release that monster just yet. With a final prayer to Isha, she flew into battle.

Love React – Clear Wood Elf Victory: The Hawk Riders outmanoeuvre the gyrocopters as the spellsingers bombard the gyrobombers with spells. Ariel personally takes on Burloksson’s bomber and succeeds in destroying his bomber. Finally, the forest dragons spewed their fiery breaths into the airships, causing them to explode in an instant, killing both Makaisson and Grunnson.

Wow React – Close Wood Elf Victory: The Gyrobombers and 2 Airships are destroyed. Without much choice, Grimm Burlokson and Grim Grunnson jump from their ships to Makaisson’s airship. As they sail/fly away, their escape is covered by Gyrocopter fire.

Angry React – Close Dwarf Victory: The vast majority of Hawk Riders are shot down by Gyrocopters and Airship cannons. Ariel takes down 1 airship with an energy blast spell and some of the gyrobombers are taken down by hawk riders. Meanwhile, the bombers lined up above 3 of the forest dragons and let loose on them. Finally, as Ariel could see her fellow hawk riders and spellweavers around her being shot down, she decided to turn back and flee to the forest, covered by the last remaining Forest Dragon as she attempted to apply pressure to her own wounds. She will just have to hope that the remaining 2 airships and gyrobombers wasted enough of their ammunition in the air-fight to do serious damage to the forest.

Laugh React – Clear Dawi Victory: The Dwarves dominate the air fight. The cannons on the airships take out the dragons before they can even get into breath attack range, the gyrocopters blast the riders off of their hawks and the spellsingers’ spells had barely any effect on the Dawi ships and their crew members high degree of magic resistance. Ariel managed to hold her own long enough to take down some bombers only for her wings to have holes shot in them causing her to crash back into the forests.